The social network is accused of using Definers to suggest charity anti-Facebook groups were being bankrolled by Mr Soros.

AP:Associated Press

George Soros is furious Facebook used PR firm to smear its critics

Patrick Gaspard, the president of Mr Soros’ Open Society Foundations, called Facebook’s actions “astonishing” in a letter to the its chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg.

He wrote: “It’s been disappointing to see how you have failed to monitor hate and misinformation.

“To now learn that you are active in promoting these distortions is beyond the pale.”

Ms Sandberg responded to his letter with a phone call in which Mr Gaspard called for a “thorough and independent inquiry on Facebook’s lobbying and PR work”.

Reuters

Mark Zuckerberg said he ordered his firm to sever ties with the PR firm

He said: “Our hope is to turn this disappointing moment into an opportunity for debate about how Facebook can be used to push out fake news and hate — and the threat disinformation campaigns pose to democracy more broadly.”

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Ms Sandberg has called the allegations “untrue” and said she did not know about Definers’ work with her site.

Facebook founder and chief Mark Zuckerberg said once he learned of the allegations he ordered his firm to sever ties with the PR firm.

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